• Chia-Hui Lin, Chih-Wei Lu, Yu-Ching Lin, Cheng-Yu Ma, Shih-Ching Kang, Chien-Hung Liao, and Chih-Yuan Fu.
• Department of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
• Injury. 2024 Sep 1; 55 (9): 111677111677.

BackgroundObesity may serve as a protective factor in blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) patients due to a "cushion effect". In this study, we aim to use computed tomography (CT) scans to measure abdominal adiposity and its correlation with injury severity in BAT patients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of male BAT patients who had undergone CT scans. Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were manually measured and height-normalized for analysis at lumbar levels L2 and L3. Statistical methods were used to compare differences in adiposity between patients with and without severe abdominal injuries. For controls, we also compared adipose tissue in patients with and without severe trauma to the chest, where less fat typically accumulates.ResultsWe included 361 male participants and conducted a comparative analysis of their demographic and injury characteristics. Patients without severe abdominal injuries had significantly higher SAT and VAT indices at both L2 and L3 (p < 0.05). However, these measures showed no significant differences between patients with and without severe chest trauma. Solid organ injuries, particularly liver injuries, were associated with decreased SAT and VAT.ConclusionIncrease abdominal adiposity was linked to lower abdominal injury severity and solid organ injuries, particularly liver injuries. In addition to conventional BMI for evaluating obesity, either subcutaneous or visceral adipose tissue over lumbar levels L2 and L3 can be used to assess the "cushion effect."Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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